GAME OF THE DAY
TOOLBOX   Resize Text
 Save/Share +
COMMENT
|
Discussion Policy
CLOSE
GAME OF THE DAY
[6] USC vs.
[11] KANSAS ST.
7:10 p.m.
Midwest Region,
The winner moves to the second round; the loser heads for the NBA draft lottery. Expect plenty of scouts to be watching this matchup of top freshmen, when the Trojans' O.J. Mayo takes on the Wildcats' Michael Beasley.
WHY WE LOVE THE TOURNAMENT Catching a breather in Denver
George Mason Coach Jim Larranaga vowed to not make an issue of the high elevation in Denver, but for two players it might be inevitable.
Starting forwards Will Thomas and Louis Birdsong, both Baltimore natives, have asthma, and neither has ever played in a high-altitude setting, as they will tonight at 9:50 against Notre Dame. Neither Thomas nor Birdsong has been seriously hindered by their asthma this season, and the Patriots are cautiously optimistic it won't be a problem.
"I guess I'll have to wait until I start down the court, see how I feel," Birdsong said before Mason's practice yesterday at the University of Denver. "Right now, I've been breathing fine. A little stuffy at night, that's about it."
Thomas didn't consider the asthma being a problem at all. "I haven't noticed it yet," Thomas said. "I haven't had any headaches or anything. It really hasn't bothered me this year."
